Container with locking cover



June 21, 1955 J. DESPOSITO 2,711,282

CONTAINER WITH LOCKING COVER Filed Dec. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 1955 J. DESPOSITO CONTAINER WITH LOCKING COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1951 United States Patent CONTAINER WITH LOCKING COVER Julian DEsposito, Wilmette, 111., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 14, 1951, Serial No. 261,630

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) that it can not be accidently dislodged therefrom, but

may be readily removed when desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a container the tray and cover of which may each be readily assembled without the use of adhesive, staples, wires or any similar securing means.

Another object is to provide a container blank with 2 integral flaps that may be interlocked to hold the container securely in set-up position.

Other objects and advantages of the structure of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the 2;.

following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention showing the cover in closed position;-

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover;

'ice

extending upwardly from its lower edge to form a tab 15 at the extreme outer lower corner ofthe flap.

Flap 11 is provided with a rectangular slot 16, disposed horizontally in such a position that the tab 15' may be inserted through the slot, when both flaps'9 and 11 are folded inwardly, to interlock therewith, andthereby hold flaps 9 and 11 in upright position with their lower edges adjacent fold line 8. The end flap 5 is then bent upwardly along fold line 8 so as to position it adjacent the interlocked flaps 9 and 11.

After the panel 5 has been. folded upwardly against I flaps 9 and 11, its flap 13 is folded over the upper edges Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tray or body por- 7" tion;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the flaps at one end of the tray;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the flaps at one end of the cover;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tray showing the tray in partially assembled position;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 9--9 of Figure 3; and a Figure 10 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 1010 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the tray blank comprises a bottom wall panel 2, a pair of side wall panels 3 and 4, and a pair of end wall panels 5. In Figure 4 only one end of the tray blank is shown because the structure at the opposite end is a duplication of that shown. The bottom wall panel 2 is separated from panels 3, 4 and 5 by fold lines 6, 7, and 8, respectively. A flap 9, extending outwardly from panel 3, is separated therefrom by a score line 10. Similarly, a flap 11, extending outwardly from panel 4, is separated therefrom by a fold line 12. The end wall panel 5 also has a flap 13 extending therefrom. A fold line 14 separates flap 13 from panel 5. The flap 13 is also provided with a crease line 14' parallel to the fold line 14 to facilitate bending the flap inwardly to engage tabs hereinafter described with slots provided therefor.

In assembling the tray portion of the container, the side wall panels 3 and 4 are each folded upwardly at right angles along the fold lines 6.and 7, respectively, and the flaps 9 and 11 are each folded inwardly along their respective fold lines 10 and 12. Flap 9 has a notch and downwardly against the inner surfaces of flaps 9 and 11 to form a smooth top edge for the end wall of the tray. The flap 13 has a pair of tabs 17 projecting therefrom. The tabs 17 are each provided with a neck 18 of reduced width, and a pair of shoulders 19 projecting on each side of neck 18. The flap 9 is provided with a pair of slits 20 spaced so as to register with tabs 17 when the end wall of the tray is assembled. A pair of angular slits 21 extend from each slit 20 to form depressible tab portions 22. The slits 20 are each slightly longer than the width of the free end portions of the tabs 22. Flap 11 is also provided with a pair of rectangular openings 23 spaced to register with tabs 22. In order to completely assemble the end wall of the tray, the tabs 17 are each pressed inwardly against tabs 22 and the enlarged head of each tab 17 is inserted through-the adjacent slit 20. The openings 23 form recesses large enough to receive the portions of tabs 17 which project through slits 20 so as to prevent excessive thickness of the end wall at these points. The shoulders 19 of the tabs 17 abut the edges of the slit 20 on opposite sides of tab 22, and are thereby held against upward movement out of the slits 20. The resilience of tabs 22 causes them to press against tabs 17 and thus aid in maintaining the interlocking engagement between tabs 17 and slits 20. l

The end wall panel 5 is provided with a pair of locking tabs 24. Each tab is formed by slitting the blank along a line 25 parallel to fold line 14 and along a pair of parallel lines 25' extending from opposite ends of the slit 25 towards fold 'line 14. The ends of slits 25' terminate close enough to fold line 14 so that when the flap 13 is folded through approximately which is necessary to interlock the tabs 17 with slits 20, the stresses set up by the folding operation causes the tabs 24 to protrude from the end wall panel 5.

As shown in Figure 5, the cover comprises a top wall panel 26, side wall panels 27 and 28, and an end wall panel 29. The top wall panel 26 is separated from panels 27, 28, and 29 byfold lines 30, 31 and 32, respectively. Only one end of the cover structure is shown in Figure 5, the opposite end being a duplication of the structure shown. Panels 27 and 28 are provided with similar flaps 33 and 34 separated therefrom by fold lines 35 and 36, respectively. The end wallpanel 29 has a flap 37 extending therefrom. A fold line 38 separates flap 37 from panel 29.

The cover is assembled by folding flaps 27 and 28 downwardly along fold lines 30 and 31, respectively, and then folding flaps 33 and 34 inwardly along fold lines 35 and 36. The end wall panel 29 is then folded downwardly along fold line 32 and flap 37 is folded upwardly along fold line 38 so as to enclose flaps 33 and 34 between panel 29 and flap 37. The flap 37 is substantially coextensive in area with panel 29 except that it is provided with a short tab 39 which projects into a slot 40 provided in top wall panel 26 adjacent the fold line 32.

Tab 39 fits snugly into slot 40 so as to hold the parts of the end wall together securely.

The flaps 33 and 34 are each provided with a rectangular aperture 41, and when the end wall of the cover movement relative to the tray.

d is assembled these apertures register with an aperture 42 in panel 29 and an aperture 43 in flap 37. Apertures 43 are also rectangular, but apertures 42 are of circular configuration. When the cover is telescoped over the tray and pushed down so that its top wall 26 rests on the upper edges of the tray, the stresses in the end Wall panel of the tray cause the locking tabs 24 to protrude outwardly into aperture 41 or 43, with which they register, so that the lower edge of each locking tab abuts the edge of panel 34 or 37 which defines the lower edge of aperture 41 or 43, and locks the cover against upward When it is desired to remove the cover from the tray, finger pressure may be exerted through each aperture 42 to presslocking tabs 24 inwardly of flap 37, and the cover may be readily removed.

The tray may be provided with a hand hold, if desired, by providing each of panels 5, 9 and 11 with elongated openings 44, 45 and 46, respectively, which are so positioned as to register with each other when the end wall structure is completely assembled.

While the present invention sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, certain changes may be made in the constructure without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A container comprising a tray and a cover, the tray having a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said end walls respectively comprising an outer panel and a pair of inner overlapping flaps at the inner face of said panel, the latter having downwardly directed locking tabs cut therefrom and attached at their upper ends to said panel, said tabs being yieldingly urged outward beyond said panel, said panel having a flap attached to its upper edge and folded downward and inward over the upper edges of said inner flaps and secured thereto, the cover having a top wall and side and end walls, said cover end walls respectively comprising an outer panel, end flaps at the inner face of said outer end wall panel, and an inner flap folded upward from said outer end wall panel and seating on the inner face of a said end flaps, the latter and said inner flap being provided with aligned openings providing recesses of two thicknesses of material and of a width equal to the maximum width of said locking tabs, the latter engaging in said recesses and in cooperation therewith securing said. 7

cover on said tray, said cover outer end wall panels being provided with openings aligned with said recesses for moving said locking tabs inward and disengaging them from said recesses.

2. A container comprising a tray and a cover, the tray having a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said end walls respectively comprising an outer panel and a pair of overlapping flaps at the inner face of said panel, the latter having downwardly directed locking tabs of uniform width cut therefrom and attached at their upper ends thereto, said tabs being yieldingly urged outward beyond said panel, said panel having a flap attached to its upper edge and folded downward and inward over the upper edges of said inner flaps and secured thereto, the cover having a top wall and side and end walls, said cover end walls respectively cornprising an outer panel, end flaps at the inner face of said outer end wall panel, and an inner flap folded upward from said outer end wall panel and seating on the inner faces of said end flaps, the latter and said inner flap being provided with aligned rectangular openings providing rectangular recesses of two thicknesses of material and of a width equal to that of said locking tabs, the latter engaging in said recesses and in cooperation therewith securing said cover on said tray, said cover outer end wall panels being provided with openings aligned with said recesses for moving said locking tabs inward and disengaging them from said recesses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

